First Bruce Hwy crisis meeting

GYMPIE'S case for more money to fix the deadly Bruce Hwy will be put to the first meeting of the highway's crisis management group in Brisbane today.

The Bruce Highway Crisis Management Group was established in April to help accelerate upgrades to the highway for safety and flood immunity, and to prioritise federal funding.

Gympie region mayor Ron Dyne was recruited in May, along with the mayors of Rockhampton and Cairns, "to bring their local expertise" to the group, which includes representatives from all three levels of government, police, the RACQ and the trucking industry.

Councillor Dyne said yesterday that while it was important people realise the highway covered a large distance, he would be highlighting what needs to occur in the Gympie area and Wide Bay Burnett - Cr Dyne was recently re-elected chairman of the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils for the seventh year in a row, and is chairman of the regional roads group.

The completion of the Cooroy to Curra bypass was the region's top highway priority, he said.